Dressed in battle fatigues kind equipped with a large quantity of arms
and ammunition and a boat named Sally, the unlucky 13 were picked up on
isolated Sombrero Key, near Marathon, and charged with violating U.S. neutrality
laws.

Led by a swashbuckling young giant named Gerald Patrick Hemming, the
brigade has been training Cuban exiles on brush-covered No Name Key.

The recruits, supplied by various anti-Castro groups in Miami, were
then sent to join the underground in Cuba.

In Key West, the 13 were arraigned before U.S. Commissioner William
V. Albury.

Many exiles believe that the action was taken in line with President
Kennedy's conditional no-invasion pledge to the Soviets. Previously, U.S.
officials closed their eyes to refuge training in the Everglades and the
Keys.

Joseph Fortier, U.S. Customs chief in South Florida, said his men had
been watching the 13 for two nights and decided to move in "when it became
obvious they were planning to take off for Cuba."

Hemming, who goes by the name of Jerry Patrick, is a beared ex-Marine
and adventurer. He dislikes being called soldier of fortune, but he looks
and acts like one.

Following an investigation by the FBI, the group last May set up camp
in Belle Glade, later moving to No Name Key.

At Tuesday's federal hearing, Customs Agent Wallace Shanley said Patrick
and his followers were arrested at 2 a.m. as they loaded arms, ammunition
and military gear aboard the Sally.

Found on the boat were 15 rifles, at least five pistols, boxes of ammunition,
blood plasma and first aid supplies, a lone hand grenade and two plastic
bombs.

Each of the 13 pleaded not guilty. In binding the group over to Federal
Court for trial Commissioner Albury said:

"The U.S. government is attempting to settle the Cuban situation and
it doesn't help when isolated groups interfere with its plans."